Sheet-separating device



Patented June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. P. JENNINGS, JII.

SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 21, 1916.

1,342,630. meneame s, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. P. JENNINGS, JR. SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE.

APPLlcATxoN FILED ocT. 21, 191s.

Patented June 8, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHEET-SEPARATING DEVICE.

Original application led March 30, 1916, Serial No. 87,725.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 8, 1920. Divided and this appiieation ined otobei- 27, 1916. Serial No.7127,993.

T 0 all whom. t may concern.'

Beit known that I, EMnnsoN P. JnNNrNGs, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Lehighton, in the county of IJarbon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Separatng Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to sheet separating devices and is a division of the application filed by me March 30th, 1916, Serial Number 87,725.

The object of the invention is to provide a sheet separating device which will be simple in its construction and operation and which will act with a high degree of elliciency; and which will operate at high speed and will separate sheets from one or several piles of sheets at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a separating device which will move one edge of the loweriiiost sheet of a pile of sheets away from the pile without otherwise disturbingthe position of said sheet with relation to the pile of sheets. To this end a further object of the invention is to so construct the device that the separating member will form a part of the support for the pile of sheets.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for retaining' the edge of the sheet in its separated position after it has been released by the separating` member; and to provide means to withdraw from the pile of sheets that sheet which has been acted upon by the separating member.

Other objects of the invention will appear `as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away7 of a printing press lshowing my'invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a. section taken vertically through a mechanism embodying my invention, showing the separating member in its normal position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the separating member moved into a position to `separate the edge of the sheet from the pile; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the sepa-4 rating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention as applied to a bed and platen press in which the form bed moves in a horizontal right line toward and away from the platen, but it will be understood that this press is chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention is applicable to presses of other types. As shown in the drawings the press as a whole comprises a main frame 1 consisting of side members spaced apart and tied together by tie rods and connecting devices and serving to support the various parts of the printing and feeding mechanisms. A normally stationary platen 2 is mounted near one end of the press and a form-bed 3 is mounted for movement towaid and away from the platen. In the type of press here shown the form-bed has combined therewith an inking drum 4. The combined formbed and inking drum is provided at its ends with truiinions mounted in guide blocks 5 which are slidably mounted in guideways (3 formed in the side walls of the main frame 1. These truiinioiis are connected by pitmen 7 with crank wheels 8 which are here shown as gears meshing with pinions 9 mounted on a shaft 10 to which power niay be applied in any suitable manner. The press is provided with av ioll feed mechanism l1 for feeding a continuous web of paper, or other material, to the press. This roll feed mechanism is normally mounted at that end of the press above the platen. It is movably mounted, however, in the present instance upon tracks 12, so that it can be moved into an inoperative position to permit of sheets being fed to the printing couple. In Fig. 1 of the drawings this roll feed mechanism is shown pushed to the inner end of the tracks above the combined form-bed and inking drum where it is iiioperative and is out of the way of the sheet feeding mechanism, which will be hereinafter described.

The sheet feeding mechanism which I have provided is, in the present instance, readily removable so that it can be substituted for the roll feed mechanism. Obviously, however, the iemovability is not essential to the operation of the mechanism and it could be permanently built into the press without departing in any sense from the invention. By making it removable I have provided the press with automatic means for feeding either a continuous web of material or separated sheets of material and have thereby greatly increased its utility. As has been stated, the feeding mechanism comprises a sheet-supporting and separating device. This device is preferably of such a character that ity willV separate one edge of the lowermost sheet of the pile from the next succeeding sheet and will turn this separated edge at an angle to the plane of the succeeding sheet so that it can be readily grasped by conveying devices and withdrawn from beneath the pile. In the present arrangement'of the mechanism this supporting device is carried by a supplemental frame 13 which is mounted on the side members ofthe main frame. Mounted on this frame ils a supporting plate 14 which is of a length less than the length of the supporting frame. Mounted on the frame and spaced away from the end of the supporting plate 14 is a sheet-separating member which forms a part of the support for the sheets and serves to separate one sheet from thepile of sheets. This separating device is preferably suction operated and as here sli-own comprises a series of suction blocks 15, each of which is provided with one or more ports 16, each of which communicates witha suitable suction apparatus. The several blocks are carried by a suction tube 16a which extends transversely of the sheet and is mounted at its ends upon the supplemental frame 131, as will be hereinafter described, As here shown the several suctionv blocks and the tube are formed integral and the tube, whiclrhere forms the body portion ofwhat may be termed the suction bar, is connected by means of a flexible tube or conduit 17 with the suction apparatus, which, in the present instance, comprises a cylinder 1,8: mounted on the frame of the press and having therein a piston 19' which is connected? by means of a rod or bar 20 with the` form-bed 3', the connection being preferably made with the slide block, or head, on which one end of the combined form-.bed and' inking drum is mounted. rEhe suction., blocks 15` are shown as projecting on one side of the axis of the suction bar and as having their upper faces flat to` form a fiat support for the sheets; The ports 16 a-re-A arranged in these flat portions of' the blocks, preferably near the outer edges thereof, and are closed by the lowermost sheet of' the pile when the blocks are in their uppermost positions. To cause the ends of the sheets to press firmly upon the suction blocks andthus more effectually closethe ports therein l prefer to elevate thev rear edge of' the pile of sheets which is carriedi by the support and l have here shown the supporting plate 14 as curved after the manner shown in the drawings and? having its rear end secured to a rod 2liy mounted in the supplemental frame 13. 'Elus-plate is offa resilient metal and owing to the manner of its mounting is capable of yielding movement.

To separate the edge of the lowermost sheet from the pile of sheets, both rotatory movement and bodily movement are imparted toY the suction bar. The rotatory movement turns the edge of the sheet downward and the bodily movement carries the bar rearwardly in a plane substantially parallel with the lowerrnost sheet and prevents the bar from exerting any pull on the sheet, which would tend to displace the sheet bodily with relation-to the pile of sheets or to uncover the ports in the suction bar, or both. The desired-movement may be imparted to theV suction bar in various ways. In the construction here shown, the 'ends of the suction bar are pro-vided with-trunnions 22 which are rotatably mounted in bearings in the lower -ends of the guide rods 28, and which extend beyond said bearings into slots 23, formedin the framemerrrbers 24:, slid'ably mounted onV the opposite side members of the supplemental frame 13. Se-

cured to the ysuction bar, preferably on the inner sides of the guide rods 28, are pinions which mesh with idle pinions 26 which are carried by downwardly extending portions of the respective guide rods, and which, in turn, mesh with fixed' racks 27 secured to. the side walls of the supplemental frame 13. The-trunnions' of the suc-- tion bar are heldy normally inthe upper portions of the slots 28, in the slidable frame members, by springs 31 which. are coiled about the rods 28 between suitablestops thereon, such as the nuts 30, and fixed parts of the supplemental. frame, such as the lower' bearing for the guide rods 28. lhen the suction bar is in its normal position the springs are under tension, and, consequently, when upwardi'movement is imparted to the slid-able frame members, the trunnions are retained in the upper portions of the slots and caused to move with the frame members, thus imparting bodily movement to the suction4 bar andi causing the geared connect-ions between. the suction bar and. the fixed rack-s 27j toP impart rotatory movement to the suction bar. Adjustable stops serve to. regulate thel amount of movement which may be imparted. to.the rods 28. In the present instance the nuts 30e are arranged to, engage the upper bearings 29 for the guide rods and thus limit the movement of the rods. After the movement of therods has been checked, the slidable frame members` may continue their movement for thel length ofthe slots into which the trunnions` of the suction barextend, this further movement serving to -move a holding device into engagement with the downturned edge of thesheet, as will be hereinafter described.

Upward longitudinal movement' may' be imparted to the slidable frame members in any suitable manner, so-long as it is prop- 20 main frame l,

25 ing the piston rod erly timed with relation to the other parts of the mechanism. In the mechanism here illustrated, this movement is secured by a suitable connection with the movable formbed, and to this end each slidable frame member, or bar, 24, is provided with a bracket 33 on which is mounted a projection, here shown in the form of a roller 34, which projection or roller is adapted to enter a cam groove 35 formed in a cam bar 36 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement at the side member of the main frame l. This cam is preferably operated from a moving part of the press and, in the present instance, is operated by the movement of the form-bed itself. For this purpose, I

have secured to each cam bai` a vertical rack 37 which meshes with a pinion 38 on a shaft 39, journaled in the side members of the and this shaft is provided with a pinion 40 which meshes with a reciprocating rack which, in turn, is connected with the form-bed. In the present instance, this reciprocating rack is formed by providor bar with teeth, as shown at 4l. Thus it will be apparent that the movement of the form-bed toward the platen will cause the cam bars to move downward, while the outward movement of the form-bed will cause the cam bars to move up 'ard. 'lhe shane of the cam grooves is such that the upward movement of the cams will impart a rearward, or upward, movement to the projections 34 and, conse- 35 quently, to the slidable frame members 24 by which these projections are carried. This movement results in the suction bars being carried rearwardly and rotated in the manner described. The movement of the suction bar is checked with the edge of the sheet turned down in a predetermined posi` tion. The cams, however, continue to move the slidable frame members 24 rearwardljT after the suction bar has ceased to move,

this being permitted by the slotted connections between tbe bar and the slidable frame members, and this movement carries a holding device or bar into a position to hold the edge of the sheet in its downturned po` sition when the suction has been released.

The holding device 43 is here shown as a connecting` bar secured at its ends to, and serving to connect together, the lower ends of the slidable frame members 24 and it is provided with a series of fingers 44 which are moved close to the downturned edge of the sheet and serve to hold the same in substantially its completely turned position. In practice the turning device will release the sheet before it is engaged by the conveying grippers and the holding device will serve to retain the same in its proper position with relation to the grippers, and if the edge of the sheet is carried beyond its exact position before its release the holding derice will accurately position the same. It will be noted that the fingers 44 of the holding device are arranged in pairs with the space between each pair arranged to register with the space between the corresponding suction blocks, thus permitting the gripping devices, which will be hereinafter described, to grip the paper above the edges of the suction blocks and holding device. The sheets of the pile are retained in their proper positions by means of adjustable guide members 45 and an end plate or frame member 46 which has a portion extendnw slightly below the upper surfaces of the suction blocks when the latter are in their normal or uppermost positions. This lower portion of the plate 46 is, however, in the form of fingers 47 which are spaced apart to permit the fingers 44 of the retaining plate 43 to pass between them as this plate is moved into its operative position. It will thus be noted that the separating device engages one end of the lowermost sheet of a registered pile and, because of the two movements which are imparted to the suction bar, this edge of the sheet is separated from the pile and turned downward without withdrawing the same from beneath the pile. Consequently, the sheet is retained in an exact predetermined position and, moreover, there is no resistance to the turningmovement which will tend to prevent thc movementof the sheet and cause, the ports of the suction block to be uncovered.

Cooperating with the separating and turning device is suitable mechanism for engaging the downturned edge of the lowermost sheet of the pile and withdrawing the same from the pile, the mechanism being preferably such that it will move the sheet directly into printing position. In the present mechanism this function is performed by conveying grippers, 50 and 5l, which are mounted on a shaft 4S, which, in turn, is mounted in brackets 49 rigidly secured to the rack bars 37 which carry the cams for operating the separating mechanism. The arrangement of the conveying grippers with relation to the canis which actuate the separating device is such that the grippers will move into a position to engage the sheet immediately subsequent to the movement of the edge of the sheet into its separated position. The gripping jaws are opened and closed, to engage the sheet and then release the same, by means of suitable tripping devices arranged along the edge of'the platen and so arranged that as the conveying grippers are moved by the rack bars they will be actuated by these tripping devices to cause them to be opened or closed at the proper time. The detail construction and operation of the conveying grippers is not essential to an understanding of the present invention, but a full description of the same l strong, durable character. Further, it will vbe apparent that the sheet to be separated is taken from a registered pile and its bodily position with relation to said pile is not altered until it is engaged by the conveying grippers, thus enabling` the same to be moved into correct printing position. This result is greatly facilitated by taking the lowermost sheet from the pile and movingv the edge thereof downwardly and rearwardly intol a position in which it may be engaged by the conveying grippers.

Vvlhile l have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that l do not desire to be limited to the details of construction as various modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters. patent, is

l. ln a sheet separating device, a part arranged to grip the bottom sheet of a pile of sheets, means to impart movement to said part to cause it to turn one edge of the sheet at an angle to the body of the sheet, and means to reta-in said edge o-f said sheet substantially in its completely turned position after it has been released by said part.

2. In a sheet separating device, a part arranged to grip the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets, means to impart movement to said part tocause it to turn one edge of said sheet at an angle to the body of the sheet,

a holding device to retain the turned edge of vsaid sheet substantially in its completely turned position, and means for actuating said holding device to cause it to engage the turned edge' of said sheet.

3; ln a sheet separating device, a stationary support for a pile sheets, a part to engage the lowermost sheet of said pile of sheets, means to impart move-ment to said part to= cause it toI turn one edge of said sheet at an angle to the body of the sheet, and means to retain said edge of said sheet substantially in the position towhich it has been turned after it has been released by said part and without displacing said sheet relatively to said pile of sheets.

et. In a sheet separating device, a part arranged to grip the lowermost sheet of a pileI of sheets, means to impart movement to said part to cause it to turny one edge of said sheet at an.angle to the body of the sheet without displacingv the sheet asa whole, said Vpart; having a portion arranged to be moved into supporting engagement with said pile by the turning movement of said part, and means to retain said edge of said sheet substantially in its completely turned position after it has been released by said part.

5. ln asheet separating mechanism, a suction device having a supporting surface arranged normally to form the sole support for the bottom of the front end ofa pile of sheets and provided in said surface with a port, means for creating suction within said device, and means for imparting movement to said device, whereby the lowermostsheet will be gripped by said device and moved away from said pile, said device having means to support the adijacentportion of said pile of sheets while the lowermost sheet is being turned away therefrom.

G. In a sheet separating device, a suction device h ving a supporting surface for a pile of sheets, saidV supporting surface having a pert communicating with the interior of said device, means for creating suction within said device, said device being mounted for rotatory movement, a pinion secured to said device, an idle pinion meshing with said pinion and mounted for movement with said device, a fined rack meshing with Vsaid idle pinion, and means for imparting bodily movement to said device.

7. ln a printing press comprising a printing couple, one member of which is movable to "ard and from the other, means Jfor supporting a pile of superimposed sheets in a fixed position, a separating device supported independently of said movable member and arranged to grip the bottom sheet of said pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from the pile, and an operative connection between said separating device and said movable member of said printing couple, said operative connection being driven by the movement of said movable member to cause said separating device to be operated.

8. In a printing press, comprising a printing couple, one member lof which is movable toward and from the other, means for supporting a pile of superimposed sheets in a tilxed position, a separating device supported independently of" said movable member and arranged to grip the bottom sheet of said pile of sheets andI turn the edge thereof away from the pile, andan operative connection between said separating device and said movable member of said printing couple, said operative connect-ion being; driven by the movement of said movable member to impart turning movement to said' separating device and to cause the edge of said-sheet tobe turned down as said movable member travels away from the other member of said printing couple.-

9. Ina printing press comprising a printing couple one'member of which is movable llO toward and away from the other, a separating device arranged to grip the lowermost sheet' of a pile of superimposed sheets and move the edge thereof away from the pile, a cam for imparting movement to said separating device, and an operative connection between said cam and the movable member of said printing couple.

l0. In a printing press comprising a printing couple one member of which is movable toward and away from the other, a separating device comprising a part adapted to grip the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets andv capable of both rotatory and bodily movement to move the edge of said sheet away from the pile of sheets, a reciprocatory cam-bar connected with said separating device, and means controlled by the movable member of said printing couple to impart reciprocatory movement to said cam-bar.

ll. In a sheet-separating mechanism,V a suction device having a part arranged normally to form the sole support for the bottom of the front end of a pile of sheets and capable of rotatory movement to move the edge of the lowermost sheet away from the pile of sheets, said device also having a part adapted to be moved into supporting engagement with said pile of sheets by the rotatory movement of the first mentioned part.

l2. In a sheet-separating device, a suction-bar mounted for rotatoryV movement and having a part extending on the bottom of the front side of the axis thereof to form the sole support for one end of a pile of sheets and having ports normally closed by the lowermost sheet of said pile, said suction-bar also having a curved portion, and means for actuating said suction-bar to cause the first-mentioned part thereof to move away from said pile of sheets and to cause the curved portion thereof to be moved into supporting engagement with said pile of sheets. l

13. In a sheet-separating device,asuction bar arranged to form the sole support for the front end of a pile of sheets and comprising a tubular body portion adapted for connection with a suction apparatus and a series of blocks provided with flat surfaces to engage the lowermost sheet of said pile of sheets, a port formed in each of said fiat surfaces and communicating with said tubular body portion, said suction bar having parts arranged to be moved into supporting engagement with said pile of sheets as said blocks are moved away from said pile of sheets, and means for imparting movement to said suction-bar to cause the edge of the lowermost sheet to be turned away from the pile without displacing the sheet as a whole,

14. In a sheet-separating device, a suction-bar comprising a tubular body portion and a series of laterally extending blocks formed integral with said tubular body portion and having flat surfaces constituting the sole support for the front end of a pile of sheets, each of said flat surfaces having a port communicating with said tubular body portion and arranged to be closed by the lowermost sheet of said pile of sheets, said body portion having that side opposite said blocks curved and adapted to be moved into supporting engagement with the lowermost sheet of said pile of sheets by the rotatory movement of said suction-bar.

l5. In a sheet separating mechanism, a separating device arranged to engage the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from* said pile, a holding device to engage the turned edge of said sheet and retain the same in its turned position, and actuating mechanism for said devices comprising means to impart movement to both of said devices during a portion of the operation of said actuating mechanism, and to cause said holding device alone to move during another portion of the movement of said mechanism.

1G. In a sheet separating mechanism, a separating device arranged to engage the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from said pile, a holding device to engage the turned portion of said sheet and retain the same in its turned position, actuating mechanism for said holding device, and means to cause said separating device to move with said holding device during the first portion of the operation of said actuating mechanism and to permit said holding device to move relatively to said separating device during the latter part of said operation.

17. In a sheet separating mechanism, a separating device arranged to engage the lowermost sheetl of a pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from said pile, a holding device to engage the turned portion of said sheet and retain the same in its turned position, an actuating device to impart movement to said holding device, and a resilient connection between said separating device and said holding device to cause the separating device to move with said holding device during the first portion of the operation of said actuating mechanism and to per mit the holding device to move relatively to said separating device during the latter part of said operation.

1S. In a sheet separating mechanism, a structure adapted to support a pile of sheets a sheet separating device arranged to engage the lowermost sheet of said pile and capable of movement in a direction to turn the edge of said lowermost sheet at an angle to said pile, actuating devices slidably mounted adjacent 4to said separatingdevice and having a sliding connection therewith,

and a spring acting on said separating deviceY to causeit to move with said actuating devices during a portion ot the movement ot' the latter.

19. In a sheet separating mechanism, a structure adapted to support a pile of sheets, .actuating devices slidably mounted adjacent to said structure and having slots therein, a sepa )ating .device mounted tor rotatory and lbodily movement and having parts extending through the slots in said actuating devices, springs tending to Vhold said parts of sa-id separating device at one end ot said slots, means tor imparting movement to said actuating devices, and a holding device carried by said actuating devices.

l 20..n a sheet separating mechanism, a structure .adapted to support a pileo'l sheets, actuating devices slidably mounted adjacent to said structure and having slots therein,

a separating device mounted 4tor rotatory and bodily movement and having parts eX* tending through the slots in said actuating devices, springs tending to hold said parts ot said separating device at one end ot said slots, reciprccatory cams `for imparting movement to said actuating devices, and a holding device carried by said actuating devices. v

2l. ln a sheet-separating device, a supporting trame, rods slidably mounted in said supporting trame and having bearings,

. a suction-.bar journaled in said bearings and comprising a tubular body portion adapted for connection with a suction apparatus and having portions arranged to support one end ot' a pile ot sheets and having ports connected with said tubular portion, means for impart ing lengthwise movement to said slide rods, and means controlled by the lengthwise movement ot said rods to impart rotatory movement to ,said suction-bar.

22. In a. device ot' the character described, a supporting trame, rods slid-ably mounted on said trame and having bearings, a suction-har journaled iii-said bearings and having" portions arranged to support one end of a pile oi" sheets, said supporting portions having ports to be connected with a suction apparatus, a fixed rack, a gear connection between said lixed rack and said suction-bar, and means tor imparting lengthwise movenient to said slide rods, whereby both bodily and rotatory movement will be imparted to sa id Vsuction-bar.

23. ln a mechanism of the character described, a device adapted to engage the lowermost sheet ot a pile ot' sheets and turn the same ari/*ay from said pile, a holding `device to engage the turned edge of said lowermost sheet; and hold the. same in its turned position when it has been released by sai-d separating device, and means for actuating said devices in timed relation.

24. In adevice o t the character described,

a sheet separating device comprising a part engage the turned edge ot said sheet and hold thesame'in Vits turned position after it has been released by said part of said separating device, and actuating mechanism to lirst actuate said part to turn the edge of the sheet and to then move said holding device intooperative relationto said turned edge.

25. in a mechanism of the character described, a rotatary device having a part to engage the lowermost sheet ot a pile ot sheets and to turn the edge ot said sheet away from said pile of sheets, a holding device to retain the edge` orP said sheet substantially in itsccmpletely turned position, and means to impart rotatory Ymovement to said sheet turning device and to move said holding device into operativey relation i with the turned edge ot the sheet b et'ore the latter has been released by said turning device.

26. ln a mechanism ot the character described, a sheet'turning device arranged to engage the lowermostgsheet of a pile of sheets, means to impart both rotatory and bodily movement to said turning device to turn the edge of said lowermost sheet away from the said pile oi sheets, and aholding -device having movement relatively to said turning device to engage the edge of the sheet after it has been turned by said turning device.

2. In a mechanism Vof the character described, a sheet turning device arranged to normally engage the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheet, said turning Vdevice' having trunnions, movable bearings for said trunnions, mea-ns to impart movement to said bearings, other means actuated by the movement of said bearings to impart rotatory movement to said turning device, a holding device vconnected with said trunnions, and means for causing said holding device to move with said bea-rings and said turning device during the movement thereet and to move relatively to said turning device afterV the movement of the latter has been completed. Y Y f 2H. In a mechanismot the character described, a sheetturning device arranged nornnily to engage the lowermost'shcet ot a pile ot sheets and having trunni-ons, rods mounted :tor longitudinal movement and having bearings to 'receive vsaid trunnions, frame members arranged for movement parallel with said rods and having slotted cennections with thetr-unnions .of said turning device, a holding device carried by said frame member, andV means for imparting longitudinal movement to saidfr-ame membei.

29. In a mechanism of the character 'dellO scribed, a sheet turning device arranged to engage the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from said pile of sheets, said device having trunnions, slide rods having bearings to receive said trunnions, slidable frame members having a slotted connection with said trunnions, springs acting on said slide rods to hold said trunnions normally at the upper ends of' said slots and to impart bodily movement to said turning device, means actuated by the bodily movement of said turning device to impart rotatory movement thereto, a holding device carried-by said frame members,I

and means to impart movement to said frame members.

30. In a mechanism of the character described, a sheet turning device arranged to engage the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from said pile of sheets, said device having trunnions, slide rods having bearings to receive said trunnions, frame members mounted for longitudinal movement alongside of said slide rods and having slots, the ends of said trunnions projecting beyond the bearings of said slide rods into said slots, a fixed rack, a geared connection between said turning device and said rack, means to impart longitudinal movement to said frame members, springs to hold said trunnions in their normal positions in said slots during a portion of the movement of said frame members and a holding device connected with said frame members.

3l. In a sheet separating mechanism, a

-device to support the forward end of a pile of sheets, means to actuate said device to separate the edge of the lowermost sheet from said pile, said separating mechanism having that portion in the rear of said device elevated above the plane of said device to support said pile of sheets with the forward end thereof in close contact with said separating device.

32. In a sheet separating mechanism, a device to support the forward end of a pile of sheets, means to actuate said device to separate the edge of the lowermostsheet from said pile, said separating mechanism having that portion in the rear of said device elevated above the plane of said device lto support said pile of sheets with the forward end thereof in close contact with said separating device, and a device to engage the separated edge of said lowermost sheet and draw said sheet from said pile.

33. In a sheet separating device, a movable member forming a support for the forward edge of a pile of sheets and a part arranged in the rear of said movable member, elevated above the plane thereof and shaped to support said pile with the forward edge thereof in close contact with said movable member, and means to actuate said movable member' to cause it to move the forward edge of the lowermost sheet away from the pile.

34. In a sheet separating device, a part having' ports therein, which ports are connected with a suction apparatus, said part being arranged to form a support for the forward end of a pile of sheets and having said ports arranged to be closed by said pilc of sheets, a supporting member arranged to the rear of the first-mentioned part, elevated above the plane thereof and shaped to cause the forward end of said pile of sheets to press firmly into engagement with said firstmentioned part, and means to actuate said first-mentioned part to separate the edge of said lowermost sheet from said pile of sheets.

35. In a sheet separating device, a separating member arranged to form a support for the forward end of a pile of sheets and 8f capable of movement to separate the edge of the lowermost sheet from said pile of sheets.y and a curved plate arranged to the rear of said member and elevated above the plane thereof to support the rearward portion of said pile of sheets and cause the forward portion thereof to maintain a close contact with said separating member.

36. In a mechanism of the character described, a device adapted to engage the lowermost sheet of a pile of sheets and turn the edge thereof away from said pile, a holding device to engage the turned edge of said lowermost sheet and hold the same substantially in its completely turned position after it has been released from said separating device and until it is engaged by a device to withdraw the sheet from said pile, and means for actuating said devices in timed relation.

37. In a sheet separating mechanism, a support for a pile of sheets comprising a device adapted to engage the lowermost sheet of said pile and having a port arranged to be closed by said lowermost sheet when said device is in engagement therewith, a connection between said port and a suction apparatus, a, reciprocatory cam, and an operative connection between said cam and said device, whereby the reciprocation of said cam will impart movement to said device to separate the edge of the sheet which is in engagement therewith from the pile of sheets, and move the same into a position to be engaged by a device to withdraw said sheet from said pile.

38. In a sheet separating mechanism, a support for a pile of sheets comprising a device adapted to engage the lowermost sheet of said pile and having a port arranged to be closed by said lowermost sheet when said device is in engagement therewith,

a connection leading from said port to a suction apparatus, reciprocatory bars, and cams carried by said bars, an operative connection between said cams and said device, to cause the latter to separate the edge of said lowermost sheet from the pile.

39. In a printing press a printing couple, a movable member adapted to act on a sheet or the like, a conveying device operatively connected with said movable member, a sheet sepa lating device ar anged to grip the botl tom sheet of a pile of sheets and move the edge thereof into a position to be engaged by said conveying device, and an operative connection between saidseparating device and said movable member, said operative connection being driven by the movement of said movable member to cause said separating device to be operated.

40. In a' mechanism comprising a movable device adapted to act on a sheet or the like and a conveying device operatively connected Ywith said movable device, a sheet separating device arranged to grip the lo'ivermost sheet of a pile of sheets and move the edge thereof into a position to be engaged by said conveying device, a cam connected With said movable device and arranged to actuate said separating device, whereby the several devices are caused to operate in timed relation one to the other.

4l. In a mechanism comprising a movable device adapted to act on a sheet or the like and a conveying device operatively connect ed with said movable device, a sheet separating device arranged to grip vthe loivermost sheet of a pile of sheets and move the edge thereof into a position to be engaged by said conveying device, reciprocatory bars connected with said movable device, and cams carried by said bars and arranged to actuate said separating device, whereby the several devices are caused to operate in timed relation one to the other.

4t2. In a sheet separating device, a suction device arranged to form the sole support vfor the bottom of the front end of a pile of sheets and comprising a tubular body portion and a laterally extending portion having a flat sheet supporting surface provided with a port, said suction bar also having a curved surface on that side of its aXis oppo site said flat surface, means for creating suction in said bar, and means for actuating said bar to cause said laterally extending portion to move about the axis thereof, and to cause said curved surface to be moved into supporting engagement with the end of said pile of sheets Without disturbing the relation of the bottom sheet to said pile.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

EMERSON P. JENNINGS, JR. 

